Brentford (H) - Wed 17th Dec, 19:30 | EFL Cup | Pre-Match Thread

[Georgian Maestro]

Change the entire team with the exception of Reijnders and what will be will be.

 

[GX Blue]

Trafford

Khusanov Dias Ake OReilly

Lewis

Savio Reijnders Foden Bobb

Mukasa

 

[TinFoilHat]

2nd team for this.

Tell them to buck up or Hugo will be flogging them in January.

If they are up for it it should be enough to get through to the obligatory 2 legged semi with Arsenal

 

[alexmcity]

IMO, 7 players are guaranteed to start if fit: Trafford, Lewis, Khusa, Ake, Reijnders, Bobb, Savinho.

For the other 4 positions Pep is likely to use Mukasa plus 3 starters from today in the 1st half and 3 other starters in the 2nd half. Haaland 20 minutes if necessary. I guess Stones and Rodri won't be fit for this game.

So, something like this:

Trafford
Nunes/Lewis
Khusa
Gvardiol/O'Reilly (each one half)
Ake

Reijnders (DM)
Lewis/Bernardo
Foden/Cherki

Bobb
Mukasa
Savinho

So, Nunes, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Bernardo, Foden, Cherki to play 45 minutes or so. Haaland to replace Mukasa with 20 minutes to go if we need a goal.

 

[pudge]

Any injuries for them after Leeds today?

 

[citytill1die84]

Brentford will go all out for this but imo this is a decent opportunity to rotate.

Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Bobb & Savinho to come in.

Trafford

Lewis Khusanov Ake Gvardiol

Reijnders Gonzalez Cherki

Bobb Mukasa Savinho

Still good enough especially with home advantage. Big boys on the bench if required.

 

[alexmcity]

Brentford will go all out for this but imo this is a decent opportunity to rotate.

Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Bobb & Savinho to come in.

Trafford

Lewis Khusanov Ake Gvardiol

Reijnders Gonzalez Cherki

Bobb Mukasa Savinho

Still good enough especially with home advantage. Big boys on the bench if required.

I'd be surprised if Gonzalez started in this game. Might come off the bench in the last 20 minutes or so.

 

[citytill1die84]

I'd be surprised if Gonzalez started in this game. Might come off the bench in the last 20 minutes or so.

Not sure we have anybody else to fill in unless Kalvin Phillips is fit lol

 

[ninjamonkey]

Brentford will go all out for this but imo this is a decent opportunity to rotate.

Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Bobb & Savinho to come in.

Trafford

Lewis Khusanov Ake Gvardiol

Reijnders Gonzalez Cherki

Bobb Mukasa Savinho

Still good enough especially with home advantage. Big boys on the bench if required.

Why do you think Brentford will go all out? Realistically, they're one of the least fancied sides left in it, they dont have a big squad themselves and there's the very real prospect of being dragged into a relegation battle in current form. they've got Wolves away next weekend which is a huge must win for them and so I wouldn't be remotely surprised if they heavily rotate themselves.

 

[citytill1die84]

Why do you think Brentford will go all out? Realistically, they're one of the least fancied sides left in it, they dont have a big squad themselves and there's the very real prospect of being dragged into a relegation battle in current form. they've got Wolves away next weekend which is a huge must win for them and so I wouldn't be remotely surprised if they heavily rotate themselves.

Because it's all they can realistically win (Don't think they will) no chance they go down imo.

 

[kunaguero10]

Surprised people are so blasé - where we are as a team atm no trophies are guaranteed currently, and the league could well be out of reach this year, so I want this trophy.

Plus, it's a new era for the team and many of our players haven't lifted silverware in a city shirt yet so I want a strong team. No need for 10 changes.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Change the entire team with the exception of Reijnders and what will be will be.

Why would you do that?
We probably wouldn't have enough fit players plus 2 away at the Afcon plus I'm guessing Pep wants to win the match.
Change a good few of them but not the entire team.

 

[waspish]

Surprised people are so blasé - where we are as a team atm no trophies are guaranteed currently, and the league could well be out of reach this year, so I want this trophy.

Plus, it's a new era for the team and many of our players haven't lifted silverware in a city shirt yet so I want a strong team. No need for 10 changes.

It’s why I think pep will pick a pretty strong side..

 

[Eaststander1]

We will absolutely smash them. 5-0 City

I'm not so sure ..... if Pep plays a weakened team, Brentford are the sort of team who could give us a few problems.

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Why would you do that?
We probably wouldn't have enough fit players plus 2 away at the Afcon plus I'm guessing Pep wants to win the match.
Change a good few of them but not the entire team.

I would rather prioritise giving the first team a full rest going into the Christmas period.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Because it's all they can realistically win (Don't think they will) no chance they go down imo.

They're the second lowest ranked team left in it, of course anything is possible but I'm not sure they'll be seeing this as a golden opportunity.

Relegation is unlikely but just a couple of bad results and they are drawn right into it. Theyve got 7 points on west ham in 18th but west ham are a side that shouldn't be going down, leeds are just 4 points behind them who they failed to beat today. Wolves away next weekend will surely be the priority for them this week

 

[citytill1die84]

They're the second lowest ranked team left in it, of course anything is possible but I'm not sure they'll be seeing this as a golden opportunity.

Relegation is unlikely but just a couple of bad results and they are drawn right into it. Theyve got 7 points on west ham in 18th but west ham are a side that shouldn't be going down, leeds are just 4 points behind them who they failed to beat today. Wolves away next weekend will surely be the priority for them this week

I seriously think Pep will rest and rotate Leverkusen style and this will give them a boost and it'll definitely be an opportunity for them.

Guess we'll see :-)

Still think we'll win. Hope so as I've an hotel booked for the final :-)

 

[JGL07]

What sort of team do we expect Brentford to put out? They are due to play Wolves away next and that is an absolute must win for them.

Wolves showed a lot of fight at the Emirates and only lost to an injury-time goal, rather like Leeds at the Etihad. Plus do Brentford really want a two-legged semi-final in the New Year?

 

[alexmcity]

What sort of team do we expect Brentford to put out?

4-5 changes.

 

[chesterbells]

4-5 changes.

Yeah, I agree with both sides changing half but not all of the team, then if they get a decent lead, bring some of the “regular starters” off second half.
That’s what I hope we do, anyway.